Out on the Town: Porchlight Cabaret

It was a dreary Saturday afternoon, that had we been planless would have likely led to a lazy day inside. Thankfully, however, my sister had supplied us two free tickets to a matinee showing of Cabaret. Which she worked on as a Wardrobe Assistant at the Porchlight Music Theatre. 

As the theater was only a short L ride away, we left about an hour before the show. Winding our way down the Brown line and into the Gold Coast we made our way to a surprisingly unassuming theater tucked between two residential buildings. If it had not been for several flags that waved us down, we may have missed it entirely. 

Having made good time, we fumbled with our masks (being slightly out of practice) and picked up our old-fashioned paper tickets. Personally, this was a huge plus as they make great scrapbook and memories pieces in a way that digital or printed tickets just can’t. 

With roughly a half hour left before doors open, we made our way to a nearby 7 – Eleven and grabbed 2 cool blue Gatorades as both my boyfriend and I were absolutely parched. Downing them both in the 45 minutes left before show start may not have been our best decision, but it was the one we made. Our thirst satiated and the time ticking down we made our way back to the theater and headed inside.

The journey inside to our seat was a surprisingly short one. More accustomed to the larger theaters in Chicago like the Goodman or CIBC I had been hoping to find a bathroom between entering and sitting down. Unfortunately, there was only a short bathroomless hallway before we were handed brochures and pointed to our seats in 5th row center left. 

The set was a beautiful vintage setting dressed in wooden beams, dark wooden floors, and a gorgeous yet mysterious backpiece of wood and glass that concealed the dimly lit orchestra.

I had never seen Cabaret before that day. My only knowledge of the show consisted of one line from my sister who described it as “fun and funny, until it suddenly becomes serious.” In my opinion it is freeing to see a show you haven’t seen before or heard much about. It clears my head of expectations and allows me to simply enjoy the journey.

While I was lost in admiration of the detailed set, our section filled up quickly, almost every seat was taken, and the show began right on time.

As we would later find out, the story began as it would end with a mini scene, an epilogue of sorts. Our traveler sported a large camera with a lightbulb that flashed as he illuminated what felt like a deserted platform with photographs.

Then the story began with a time and place, Berlin 1929, illuminated above a train platform as we dove into the main story and introduced the main character, a Traveller from Pennsylvania. 

The scene changed as the Master of Ceremonies bid the crowd “Willkommen” to the show within a show. The stage was so close it felt as if we had stepped out of time, a part of a roaring 1920’s. MC described “beautiful” boys and girls emerged from stage left and right and the party began with an opening musical number. 

For those of you who may be unaware, Cabaret follows the story of Clifford Bradshaw, a struggling American author who called Berlin home in the late 20’s and early 1930’s as he navigates the death of the “never ending party,” his relationships, and democracy. 

The flow of the show visually remained consistent as the story flipped back and forth between the home of the Cabaret, the Kit Kat Klub, and Fraulein Schneider’s Guest House. The Cabaret scenes always took place on the platform while scenes set in the apartment took place closer to the audience with doors set out for a visual cue of the location. Even as the story undertook a tonal shift at the end of act one, the placement of the actors/set gave the audience structure and consistency. 

In the first act the costumes were more risqué and fun. Each character really had unique costumes that defined who they were. 

The second act outfits were more reserved, even in the Cabaret scenes. There were more scenes with uniforms that contrasted with the previous acts’ individualized wear. 

Costumes also provided important time stamps to the audience as it followed history and the appearance and strength of a rising power. Political symbols went from no presence to arm bands to full on uniforms as time passed in the musical. 

Choreography for the dance scenes were artistically done, as the movements along with the music cued the audience into the change of a good time to a more serious topic. 

A combination of various dance styles and some period/historical movements added context of time and meaning to the show. 

The run time was about 2 hours and 30 minutes which included an intermission. I was able to run to the very cute old fashioned looking bathrooms during the 15-minute break. 

The second act, shorter than the first, drove home the point and wrapped the story up. Of course, the show ended on a fun and glittery note with “Willkommen” (Reprise)/”Final Ultimo” before it ended as it began, keeping with the consistency of the structure of the story. 

Like any good piece of art, Cabaret left us with conversations to be had as we slipped out of the theater into the rain, which made us leave the Gold Coast and head toward home or so we thought. Mid commute we took a turn and ended up at a pizza by the slice place, Big G’s.